Allies have emerged as key enablers of diversity and inclusivity initiatives in the workplace, in professional associations, and in everyday life. But what is an ally? What skills are required to be an effective ally? How do we hold ourselves and our community members accountable for being effective allies? This symposium will provide a deeper understanding of what it means to be an ally and the skills to help advance allyship as individuals and as a community. Furthermore, this symposium will bring together different perspectives of allyship and provide attendees an opportunity to ask questions and practice important allyship skills in a safe and welcoming space.

Specifically, we envision a 1.5-hour session that includes a facilitated panel discussion, bystander intervention training, and an opportunity to discuss the topics covered in more detail. First, the facilitated panel discussion will bring together 4-5 individuals in different careers and career stages related to dendrochronology who will speak to why allyship is important and how they have worked to enact it within their own lives and careers (~30 minutes). This panel will include time for audience questions. Then, there will be a bystander intervention training that includes small group activities to help attendees learn and practice skills necessary to act as effective allies (~45 minutes). This training will ideally help address some of the problematic scenarios or explore the opportunities discussed in the panel. Finally, we will close with a small or large group session (depending on audience size) for final questions and reflections (~15 minutes).